pt. 1. Death in western health care. The problem of death denial : The prevailing medical paradigm ; Nursing school and death denial ; Emergency room practice ; Death denial in the community -- 2. A broader view of healing : Kübler-Ross and the plight of the dying ; Palliative care and healing ; Healing and the power of the mind ; Reflecting on death -- 3. Awakening to impermanence and facing death : Death's scythe ; Questioning assumptions -- pt. 2. Resources from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. 4. Ceaseless transformation : Dependent origination: the truth of impermanence ; Karma: form and shadow remain linked ; Ordinary mind: the worlds we find ourselves in ; Enlightened mind: the light within ; Rebirth: the realms of cyclic existence ; The Tibetan Book of the Dead: an instruction manual -- 5. The eight stages of dissolution : Stage 1: Earth dissolves into water (mirage) ; Stage 2: Water dissolves into fire (smoke) ; Stage 3: Fire dissolves into wind (fireflies) ; Stage 4: Wind dissolves into space (flame) ; Stage 5: Ordinary mind states dissolve (white flash) ; Stage 6-8: Subtle mind states dissolve (red flash, black flash, clear light) ; The Tibetan art of death: two lamas ; Summary table of the eight stages of dissolution -- pt. 3. Practical applications or care providers. 6. Tibetan Buddhist practice and the dying trajectory : The Tibetan Buddhist death meditation ; Hearing the diagnosis: death is certain ; What do I say? Time of death is uncertain ; Focusing: at death only the condition of the mind has value -- 7. Developing a transpersonal stance in care of the dying : Presence, not pretense ; Promoting peace in relationships: forgiveness ; Ensuring peace at the end: sacred passage.
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